How to use iOS Single App Mode

This article describes the Single App Mode feature for iOS when using SimpleMDM. If you don’t already have a SimpleMDM account, you can start a free trial today.

What is Single App Mode?

Single App Mode (SAM), often referred to as “Single App Lock” is a feature for supervised devices that restricts the device to running only one app. While Single App Mode is enabled, the selected app will stay in the foreground.

This feature includes a number of additional options, such as the ability to:

• Disable screen touch actions

• Disable device rotation

• Disable volume buttons

• Disable ringer switch

• Disable sleep/wake button

• Disable auto lock

• Enable voice over

• Enable zoom

• Enable inverted colors

• Enable assistive touch

• Enable speak selection

• Enable mono audio

• Allow voice over adjustments

• Allow zoom adjustments

• Allow inverted colors adjustments

• Allow assistive touch adjustments

What is Autonomous Single App Mode?

iOS can be configured to allow some apps to enable and disable Single App Mode on their own, under certain scenarios. This functionality is referred to as Autonomous Single App Mode (ASAM). Since this functionality makes the app responsible for enabling and disabling Single App Mode, apps need to be designed specifically to support ASAM.

As a SimpleMDM administrator, you are able to specify a whitelist of apps that are allowed to place themselves in single app mode.

How do I configure Single App Mode & Autonomous Single App Mode?

Single App Mode is enabled by the MDM administrator in the SimpleMDM interface. To enable Single App Mode and/or Autonomous Single App Mode, complete the following steps:

1. Visit Configs > Profiles and create a Single App Lock profile.

2. Visit Devices > Groups and select a device group to view the group details screen.

3. From the “Configurations” tab, select the Single App Lock profile and click “Save”.

Once you complete these steps, your supervised devices will enter Single App Mode and/or grant specified apps with Autonomous Single App Mode permissions.